Chest catch



L. H. SEIBERT CHEST CATCH Filed June 12, 1951 FIG.|

May 25, 1954 LAURENCE H. SEIBERT Patented May 25, 1954 QFFICE 15 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in fasteners of the spring-toggle type more particularly adapted for securing the lids, covers or separable members to cabinets, boxes, trunks and similar containers.

Examples of fasteners or latching devices belonging to the same general class to which the present inproved fastener relates, are shown and described in Patent No. 1,390,165, issued Septem ber 63, 1921, to Benjamin H. Erwin; in Patent No. 2,457,985, issued January 4, 1949, to Louis M. Dyson; in Patent No. 2,462,282, issued February 22, 1949, to Jack Pickford; and in application filed concurrently herewith by Cataldo Celeste for Inclosed Spring-Loaded Catch, now issued as Patent No. 2,633,531, Serial No. 231,243 (now Patent No. 2,635,910, issued April 21, 1953).

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved fastener of the character referred to which, although requiring but a very small eccentricity of movement to apply or close, is eifective to hold a lid or cover in tightly closed relation to the associated box or container.

Another object resides in the provision of an improved fastener of the character referred to wherein the individual parts or elements are so designed and coordinated as to give to the cornplete assembly each of the desirable structural and operating features of fasteners or latching mechanisms such as those aforesaid.

A further object or" the invention is the provision of a catch which is adequately protected from breakage or injury to other equipment or personnel by enclosing the springs and retaining the parts flat against the cabinet whether in open or closed position.

Still another object is the provision of means to facilitate the initial opening of the catch without increasing its size or likelihood of accidental opening.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, an embodiment thereof is shown in the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, a fastener constructed and operating in accordance with the present invention, the section being taken on the line l-I in Fig.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, looking toward the left in Fig. l

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

sec. 266) toward the left in Figs. 4 and '7, respectively;

- Figs. 6 and 9 are end elevational views looking upwardly in Figs. 4 and '7, respectively;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Itlfi in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but in section, the section being taken on a line corresponding to line Iii-40 in Fig. l.

The base of the improved fastener is a foot plate or base plate It adapted to be secured to the front of a chest or other enclosure, and at opposite edges thereof it has formed thereon outturned parallel ears or lugs II and I 2.

The body I4 of the fastener shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is pivotally connected to base It! by a steel pin I5 whose ends are fixed rigidly in lugs l l and I2 by welding or in any other suitable manner so that the pin cannot'rotate with respect to the base. That part of pin I5 between lugs II and I2 is made flat on opposite sides thereof, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and passes loosely through longitudinal slots i6 and l! in the respective side walls It and IS of body I4. As viewed in Figs. 2, 3, 10 and 11, body It can therefore be rotated through one-hundred-eighty degrees clockwise with respect to base Ill. During such movement, however, pin I5 remains fixed in the. position thereof shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Pivotally connected to body 14 by a steel pin 2!? of the same cross-sectional shape and size as pin it, is a steel bail 2!. The ends of pin 2!] are fixed rigidly in the ends of the bail arms and the flattened intermediate part passes loosely through holes 22 and 23 in the respective side walls l8 and IQ of body i i. As viewed in Figs. 2 and 10, bail 2i and pin 25 fixed t ereto can accordingly be rotated through one-hundred-eighty degrees counter-clockwise with respect to body It. This bail is formed with a closed bight portion in the form of a straight cross bar 2i and the length of the bail arms is suiiicient for the bar to swing upwardly over and into a hook 651 on the lid of the closure of the chest or the like upon which the device is installed, when the body or housing is is moved from its lowermost or closed-catch position a suificient distance (sixty or seventy degrees of such movement being ordinarily sufiicient) to properly raised or released-catch position.

The operating handle 25 of the fastener shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 9 is pivotally connected to the body 14 of the fastener by the same steel pin 20 which pivotally connects bail 2| to body I4. As shown in Figs. 4, and 6, the body I4 is made up of sheet metal formed with an outer face 24 and with the side walls I8 and I9 having, respectively, holes 22 and 23 through which pin passes, and slots I6 and IT. The side walls It and I9 are continued in the back of the fastener to close in the rear portion, and the face of the fastener is formed at the top to close in the top portion approximately down to the point where the side portions are continued around .to the rear. At the lower end of the side walls I8 and I9 lugs 34 and 35 are provided for a purpose to be described later. The operating handle 25 includes two similar side portions 39 and 4!) provided respectively with holes M and 42 and also with lugs 43 and 44.

Coil springs 45 and 46 are disposed in the body or housing I4 and are compressed between pins I5 and20. As shown in Figs. 1, 10 and 11, a steel rectangular thrust plate 59 which has a relatively loose fit within housing I4, is interposed between each of the pins I5 and 28 and the respective adjacent ends of the springs.

To install the fastener the base I0 thereof is screwed to the front face of a cabinet or other container 41 whose lid or cover 48 is provided with a hook 49.

In the following explanation of the operating action in applying th fastener and in snapping it closed or in releasing it, the reference will be to Figs. 2, 3, 10 and 11 of the drawing. Preparatory to closing the cover 48 tightly on container 41, the forefinger is hooked under the lower edge of handle 25 and the latter moved clockwise about pin 28 to engage lugs 43 and 44 with lugs 34 and 35, respectively, so that handle 25 becomes, in effect, an extension of housing I4 to increase the leverage ratio considered from pin I5 as the pivotal point.

With lugs 43 and 44 engaged with lugs 34 and 35, housing I4 and bail 2| wise and about the fixed pin I5. Bail 2! is then pushed clockwise about pin 20, and over hook 49. With pressure now exerted downward and in the righthand direction on handle 25, the edge portion 25' thereof engages lugs 34 and 35 of housing I4 which is, accordingly, moved counter-clockwise about pin I5. This movement straightens out the toggle to a position of maximum stress whereat the hook and bight 2| and the pins I5 and 2B are in a common plane-that is to say, on dead center, such action being allowed for by further compression of springs 45 and 45 to exert, through housing I4 and pin 20, a strong downward pull on bail 2| and hook 49. The plane mentioned is inclined downwardly and away from the face of the base In at a slight angle, so that further movement of the lower parts of the bail and housing toward the right to the closed-catch position shown in Fig. 10, is permitted. During this action, there is a corresponding relative movement vertically of housing I4 with respect to the fixed base ID, the purpose of slots I6 and I1 being to permit this. As the toggle passes to the right of dead-center, the fastener, under force exerted by the compressed Springs 45 and 46, snaps into the closed position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10 and is at least partially locked therein by reason of engagement of the fiat surfaces of pins I5 and 28 with the flat thrust plates 50, as shown in Fig. 10.

are also moved clock- To open or release the fastener with the same closed as shown in Figs. 2 and 10, the forefinger is hooked under the lower edge of handle 25 and the latter pulled clockwise about pin 20, the force exerted for this purpose being designated F in Figs. 2 and '8 and the points of contact with base I0 being designated 25", n Fig. 8. Handle 25functions as a lever of the second class. The dimensions a and 4a (Fig. 8) of the two arms of the lever result in a force 4F being applied to pin 29 at both ends thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. The forces 4F, applied through pin 20 to bail 2|, as shown in Fig. 2, move the bail clockwise about hook 49 to initiate reverse or outward movement of the toggle. Th clockwise movement of handle 25 about pin 20 engages lugs 43 and 44 with lugs 34 and 35, respectively, whereupon housing I4 is moved clockwise about pin I5 and bail 2I is moved clockwise about hook 49. When the toggle passes to the left of dead-center the force exerted by compressed springs 45 and 45 completes the opening movement with a quick snap action. Bail 2I is then free to be swun counter-clockwise about pin 20, and clear of hook 49.

An important structural and operating feature of the improved fastener resides in the novel design and arrangement of handle 25. With the fastener closed as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 0, the compressed springs 45 and 48 exert on bail 2I a total downward pull which might be as high as seventy-five pounds, the spring characteristics being chosen to suit particular requirements for holding lid 48 tightly closed on the container 41. This relatively strong force exerted by the springs downwardly with respect to bail 2I is also applied to housing I4 through pin 20, and is a strong force opposing clockwise movement of housing I4 about pin I5. Also acting to hold the fastener closed, or in other words, to resist any clockwise movement of housing I4 about pin I5, is the strong force by which the flat thrust plates 58 ar pressed against the respectiv flat surfaces of pins I5 and 20 by springs 45 and 46, as shown in Fig. 10. Assuming that for the purpose of forcing a clockwise movement of housing I4 about pin I5 to open or release the fastener it takes a force of 4F applied to both ends of pin 28, as shown in Fig. 2, it will be observed that on account of the leverage action provided by handle 25, a force of only F is required to release the fastener. This feature becomes particularly important should the fastener become stuck or clogged with snow and ice. Under such conditions, the ample space between base If! and the lower edge of handle 25 permits a sufilcient grip to be had on handle 25, although the operator may be wearing mittens.

With the fastener open as shown in Figs. 3 and 11, the spring housing I4 may be pushed to the right, against the front wall of container 41, and bail 2| may be swung counter-clockwise until it also is against this wall. In such case, the compressed springs 45 and 46 press plates 50 against one of the fiat surfaces of the respective pins I5 and 20 to hold housing I4 and bail 2I firmly against the front wall of the container. With housing I4 and ball 2I so disposed with respect to each other, the two may be swung clockwise about pin I5, through one-hundred-eighty degrees. They will then stand upright and will be held-so by the action of springs 45 and 45 pressing the fiat thrust plate 58 against the top, flat surface of pin I5.

AS shown in Figs. 10 and 11, both the top and bottom flat surfaces of the fixed pin I 5 are in horizontal planes. This arrangement provides that in moving housing it from any intermediate position thereof to the down position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10 or to the straight-up position, such movement will be completed with a quick snap-action. Also, the oppositely-disposed flat surfaces of pin it are arranged so that either one or the other is pressed fiat against the adjacent surface of the associated plate 56 when bail 2| is in either one or the other of the two extreme positions thereof, i. e., in juxtaposition with respect to housing It as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10, or extending straight out with respect to housing I l, which would be the down position in Figs. 3

and 11.

The improved fastener is of the pro-loaded or spring-loaded variety. This important feature is brought about by the fa ct that with the fastener in the open or release position thereof as shown in Figs. 3 and 11, the springs 45 and 55 are compressed a substantial amount between pins l5 and 25. As soon, therefore, as bail 2| takes hold on hook 49 in tightening down on lid 48, the relatively i were alre 1y partly compressed, becomes effective on hook it. As the fastener is completely closed as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 10, the springs are further compressed to bring into full play the maximum force intended for the springs to exert in holding lid 8 tightly closed with respect to container From this it will be seen that the fastener is effective to hold a lid or cover in tightly closed relation to the associated box or container, although requiring but a very small eccentricity of movement in being closed for such purpose.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing disclosure that the housing It, with the first pin it and the sprin means with the plate 50 supplying a flat against the pin, constitutes a link device useful in toggles of various forms where it is desired to yieldingly hold the linkage in a given position, and is a subcombination in the organization of the whole catch disclosed.

In the claims, the term fiat is used in the broad sense, contemplates modifications such as pins of a circular cross-sectional area but bent in a single plane to form protrusions extending outwardly, in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis.

While but one embodiment of the invention has shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications, such as in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts, are possibl without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A chest catch comprising, a hook adapted to be fixed to the cover of a chest, a base plate adapted to be to the body of said chest, base plate inchioling a pair of spaced lugs extending substantially perpendicularly from said base plate, a first pivot pin extending between said lugs and fastened thereto, said pivot pin having at least one flat surface along the long dimension thereof and said fiat surface being approximately perpendicular to said .base plate, a spring housing having a generally rectangularly shaped cross section, opposite short;

walls of said housing each being provided with a longitudinal slot near one end of said housing, said opposite short walls of said housing each being provided with a second aperture near the other end of said housing, said housing being =rong pull exerted by the springs which 6 mounted between said pair of lugs with said first pivot 'pin extending through said longitudinal slots, said housing being rotatable about said pin, a bail, a second pivot pin fixed between the open ends of said ball, said second pin having at least one fiat surface along the long dimension thereof and facing the closed end of said bail, said spring housing being mounted between the open ends of said bail with said second pivot pin extending through said second pair of apertures, said bail and second pivot pin being rotatable with respect to said spring housing and said bail being disposed to be engageable with said hook, coil spring means in said housing and compressed between said first and second pivot pins, a first rectangular thrust plate within said housing between one end of said spring means and said first pivot pin, a second rectangular thrust plate within said housing between the other end of said spring means and said second pivot pin, a generally U-shaped lever member, a pair of apertures in opposite arms of said U-shaped member, said lever being mounted with the arms of said U-shaped member about said spring housing and with said second pivot pin extending through said apertures in said arms, said lever being rotatable with respect to said second pivot pin, whereby when the chest is closed, lifting the closed end of said U-shaped member causes the ends of the arms of the U to bear against said base plate and said housing to pivot about said second pivot pin away from said body.

2. A chest catch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second pivot pins each further include a second flat surface parallel to its one fiat surface.

3. A chest catch as claimed in claim 2, further including first lugs projecting from said housing and engageable with said lever member to limit the degree of counter-clockwise rotation thereof with respect to housing about said second pivot pin, and second lugs projecting from said lever member and engageable with said first lugs to limit the degree of clockwise rotation of said lever member with respect to said spring housing about said second pivot pin.

In a device for clasping two parts together, a hook adapted to be fixed to one of said parts; a member adapted to be fixed to the other of said parts including a pair of outwardly extending spaced lugs, a first pivot pin extending between said lugs and fastened thereto, a generally hollow spring housing having a front wall and opposing side walls, there being a first pair of apertures, one in each side wall, near one end of said housing and a second pair of apertures, one in each side wall, near the other end of said housing, said housing being mounted with said first pivot pin extending through said first pair of apertures, said housing being rotatable about said pivot pin, a bail, a second pivot pin fixed between the open ends of said ball, said spring housing being mounted with said second pivot pin extending through said second pair of apertures, said bail and second pivot pin being rotatable with respect to said housing said ball. being disposed to be engageable with said hook, said second pivot pin having a least one flat surface along the long dimension thereof, and spring means within said housing extending between said first and second pins and biasing said pivot pins in a direction away from said spring means, whereby said bail, second pivot pin and housing constitute a, toggle joint, there being a given angle formed by said housing and said bail in one position of said joint, said second pivot pin being at the apex of said angle, so that said spring means exerts pressure against said fiat surface of said second pivot pin and thereby tends to maintain said housing and bail at said given angle.

5. In a device as claimed in claim 4, said first pivot pin including at least a flat surface along the long dimension thereof, whereby said housing, first pivot pin and lugs constitute a second toggle joint, there being a given second angle formed by said housing and said lugs in one position of said second joint, said first pivot pin being at the apex of said angle, so that said spring means exerts pressure against said fiat surface of said first pivot pin and thereby tends to maintain said housing and lugs at said second angle.

6. In a device as claimed in claim 4, said second pivot pin including a plurality of fiat surfaces along the long dimension thereof, whereby said housing, second pivot pin and bail form a multi-position toggle joint.

'7. In a device as claimed in claim 4, said first pivot pin including a plurality of fiat surfaces along the long dimension thereof, whereby said housing, first pivot pin and lugs form a multiposition toggle joint, and said second pivot pin including a plurality of flat surfaces along the long dimension thereof, whereby said housing, second pivot pin and bail form a multi-position toggle joint.

8. In a device for clasping two parts together, a hook adapted to be fixed to one of said parts, a base member adapted to be fixed to the other of said parts and including a pair of outwardly extending spaced lugs, a first pivot pin extending between said lugs and fastened thereto, a generally hollow housing having a front wall and opposing side walls, there being a first pair of apertures, one in each side wall, near one end of said housing, and a second pair of apertures, one in each side wall, near the other end of said housing, said housing being mounted with said first pivot pin extending through said first pair of apertures, said housing being rotatable about said first pivot pin, a bail, a second pivot pin fixed between the open ends of said ibail, said housing being mounted between the open ends of said bail with said second pivot pin extending through said second pair of apertures, said bail and said second pivot pin being rotatable with respect to said housing, and said bail being disposed to be engageable with said hook, said ball and housing constituting a toggle, and having a dead-center maximum stressed position when the hook and said pins are in a common plane and with the mutually connected ends of the bail and housing spaced from said base member, a lever member having an aperture therethrough intermediate the ends thereof, said lever member being mounted with one end thereof extending from said housing and with the second pivot pin extending through its aperture, whereby when said parts are clasped together, lifting said one end of said lever member causes the other end thereof to bear against said other of said parts, and said housing to pivot about said second pin and move away from said other of said parts, said lever having a closed-catch position parallel to and close against said base member, whereby when its outer end is drawn outwardly from said base member, its other end will act against said base member as a fulcrum and move said second pin and connected end of said housing and hail outwardly and upwardly to free the hail from the hook.

9. In a device for clasping two parts together,

a hook adapted to be fixed to one of said parts, a base member adapted to be fixed to the other of said parts including a pair of outwardly extending spaced lugs, a first pivot pin extending between said lugs and fastened thereto, a generally hollow housing having a front wall and opposing side walls, there being a first pair of apertures, one in each side wall, near one end of said housing, and a second pair of apertures, one in each side Wall, near the other end of said housing, said housing being mounted with said first pivot pin extending through said first pair of apertures, said housing being rotatable about said first pivot pin from a closed-catch position extended oppositely from said hook to a releasedcatch position with its free end nearer the hook, a bail, a second pivot pin fixed between the open ends of said bail, said housing being mounted between the open ends of said bail with said second pivot pin extending through said second pair of apertures, said bail and said second pivot pin being rotatable with respect to said housing, and said bail closed at its outer end and having a length to engage at its closed end with said hook when said housing is at said released-catch position and a lever member comprising a substantially fiat front wall and parallel, opposed side walls, said side walls extending beyond said front wall to form a pair of parallel arms, each arm having an aperture, said apertures being spaced from the free end of said arms, said lever member being mounted with said housing between said arms and with said second pivot pin extending through the apertures in said arms, said lever member being rotatable with respect to said second pivot pin, whereby when saidparts are clasped together, with said housing in said closed-catch position, lifting of the outer end of said front wall of said lever member causes it to pivot about said second pivot pin and the free ends of said arms of the lever to bear against said base member so that said second pivot pin will force said housing to pivot about said first pivot pin and swing away from said base member toward said released-catch position.

10. In a device as claimed in claim 9, limit means on said housing and said lever member to limit the rotation of said lever member about said second pivot pin, with respect to said housing, to a predetermined angle.

11. In a device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said limit means comprises lugs projecting from said housing and engageable with said lever member and lugs projecting from said lever member and engageable with said housing.

12. In a spring-toggle fastener of the character described, a bail and a spring housing pivotally connected to function as a toggl joint, spring means disposed in said housing, and a pin constituting the pivotal connection between said bail and said housing and extending through the latter and being rotatable with respect thereto, said pin being fixed with respect to said bail for pivotal movement therewith with respect to said housing, said pin having at least one relatively flat surfac along the long dimension thereof, said spring means being secured within said housing so as to exert pressur against said pin, whereby said bail, pivot pin and housing function as a toggle joint, there being a given angle formed by said housing and said bail in one position of said joint, said pivot pin being at the apex of said angle, such that said spring means exerts pressure against said flat surface of said pin and tends to maintain said housing and bail at said given agle.

13. In a spring-toggle fastener of the character described, a base plate, a bail and a spring housing pivotally connected to function as a toggle, said housing being pivotally connected to said plate, a first pin constituting the pivotal connection between said bail and said housing and extending through the latter and being rotatable with respect thereto, said first pin being fixed with respect to said bail for pivotal movement therewith with respect to said housing, a second pin constituting the pivotal connection between said plate and said housing and extending through the latter and being rotatable with respect thereto, said second pin being fixed with respect to said plate, each of said pins having at least a fiat surface along its long dimension, said pins being positioned so that said flat surfaces face one another in at least one predetermined angular relationship of said housing, said base plate and said ball, and spring means disposed in said housing and compressed between said pins so as to exert pressure against both said fiat surfaces when said housing, base plate and bail are in said predetermined angular relationship, whereby said pressure against said fiat surfaces tends to maintain said housing base plate and bail in said predetermined angular relationship.

14. In a spring-toggle fastener of the character described, a base plate, a :bail and a housing pivotally connected to function as a toggle, said housing being pivotally connected to said plate, a, first pin constituting the pivotal connection between said bail and said housing and extending through the latter and being rotatable with respect thereto, said pin being fixed with respect thereto, said pin being fixed with respect to said bail for pivotal movement therewith, a second pin constituting the pivotal connection between said plate and said housing and extending through the latter and being rotatable with respect thereto, said second pin being fixed with respect to said plate, and a lever member pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof to to said housing, said first pin constituting the pivotal connection of said lever member, said lever member being disposed to function as a lever of the second class, the fulcrum being at on end thereof, the load at said first pin, and the force being applied at the other end thereof.

15. In a spring loaded catch, a spring-loaded link element comprising a substantially hollow spring housing, opposite walls of said housing having apertures therein substantially equally spaced from one end of said housing, a pivot pin extending through said apertures, said pivot pin having at least one fiat surface along the long dimension thereof, spring means secured within said housing and including a flat exerting pressure against said pivot pin, said housing being relatively rotatable about said pin to a relative angular position such that the pressure of said spring is exerted against said fiat surface and tends to maintain said housing in said relative position.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

